Yes, you’ve read that correctly. Alibaba has proposed a vending machine for sales of vehicles in a recent announcement. Moreover, the company has provided the details of what exactly this vending machine will look like. The futuristic buildings of ‘Car Vending Machines’ will look like a bigger version of kids’ toys.
Alibaba is on a mission to integrate the offline market with the online sales platform. The recent investment of USD 2.9 billion in hypermarket operator Sun Art and the announced of this ‘gigantic vending machines’ project are prominent examples of its mission.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvJFluC3A5s
How does the Car Vending Machine work?
- A potential customer uses Alibaba’s Taobao app to scan a car that they are interested in
- The system recognizes the scanned vehicle and lets them pick a color
- The customer is then prompted to enter basic information and snap a selfie
- Then, the system arranges a car for a test-drive if it’s available
- Once the customer is ready to buy the car, they head over the unmanned vending machine facility and after showing their face (hence the earlier selfie), their order retrieves and the company dispatches the car
The customer can either buy a vehicle after a test-drive or arrange to test a different model via Taobao app.
According to Alibaba, two stores, one in Shanghai and the other in Nanjing, will be opened in January to help the customers in buying a car as easily as buying a can of soda. The company revealed that it is planning to open more outlets across China later in 2018.
The company’s policy, to allow the potential customers to take a car for up to three days to test-drive it, is a risky business and Alibaba is relying on its own financial resources to keep the track of borrowed vehicles. Moreover, the company will also allow the customers to test-drive as much as five vehicles in just two months which, according to Alibaba, will “increase” its potential customers.
The customers will avail a free test-drive only if they’ve reached a certain score on their Zhima credit-scoring service and are also a super member of Alibaba.
This is not the first time Alibaba is taking big steps. Previously, it had also sold other large tickets like airplanes and expensive vehicles online. This time, with the cars’ vending machine concept, the company wants to blend online retail with physical retail.
Related: Alibaba Backed Meizu all Set to Enter Pakistani Smartphone Market
Other countries like Singapore and Germany are also working on the Cars Vending Machine concept. Accordingly, Singapore has launched a similar showroom this year, and Germany and Nashville have identical showrooms for quite a while now.
Via TechCrunch
Good One : Pakistan Main Bhi Hona Chahyeh Aisa
Pta Nahi Yaha K IT Wale Aisa Q Nhai Sochte
Yahan Sohrab Cycle ki try nhi milti ap Cars ki bat kar rahe ho…
Poori Vending machine hi gaip ho jaye gi :P
lolzz Funny !! Buying a driver less from an un-manned vending machine for a human being, lolzz
Idhar Yahan koye safaye wali taakki naye chorta aur Ali baba unmanned very vehicle selling kr rha hai. Wah. ?
AliBaba China Main Isi Liye hai :p